Urban Coyotes Face Health Risks as Human Food Reliance Grows

Toronto – Urban coyotes are increasingly consuming human food and discarded waste, leading to serious health issues and altering their natural behaviors, according to experts. These adaptable predators, who play a critical role in controlling rodent populations, are now facing malnutrition, disease, and even behavioral changes due to their reliance on highly processed foods and littered garbage.

Studies reveal that urban coyotes consume twice as much human food as their rural counterparts. Instead of hunting small mammals or foraging for natural food sources like fruits and nuts, many urban coyotes are scavenging through trash, feasting on items such as fast food, sweets, and even non-edible materials like plastic wrappers and bottle caps. This shift in diet is proving harmful, with significant consequences for both the coyotes and the communities they inhabit.

The Impact of Human Food on Coyotes

While discarded human food is easy to find, it is far from nutritious for coyotes. A diet high in sugary, carbohydrate-heavy foods such as candy, bread, and pasta can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to parasites and illnesses like mange. Additionally, consuming processed food affects their gut bacteria, impairing their ability to digest and absorb nutrients from natural prey, further compromising their health.

The unhealthy diet has also been linked to more aggressive behaviors in some coyotes. Encounters between humans and coyotes have increased as these animals venture into urban areas in search of food, often rummaging through garbage bins or loitering in parking lots. Experts warn that this dependence on human food may lead to more dangerous interactions, especially as coyotes lose their natural fear of people.

Keeping Coyotes Wild

To address this growing issue, residents can take simple steps to discourage coyotes from relying on human food and help them return to their natural diets:

• Secure garbage and compost bins to prevent easy access.
• Remove potential food sources from yards, including fallen fruit and birdseed.
• Avoid feeding coyotes or leaving pet food and water bowls outdoors.
• Dispose of food waste properly and wash recyclables before discarding.

By reducing the availability of human food, coyotes can be encouraged to remain in natural urban habitats and resume hunting prey like mice, rabbits, and rats—an essential role they play in maintaining ecological balance.

Understanding Our Role

As Toronto’s urban landscape continues to expand into natural habitats, coyotes have had to adapt to survive. However, experts emphasize that human actions, such as littering and feeding wildlife, can significantly influence their behavior. By making small but impactful changes to reduce human food waste and maintain a respectful distance from wildlife, residents can foster a safer coexistence with coyotes.

Coyotes are naturally timid and tend to avoid humans, but their growing comfort around people highlights the urgent need for community-wide efforts to minimize interactions. Encouraging coyotes to hunt rather than scavenge ensures their health and helps preserve the delicate balance between wildlife and urban environments.

For more information on living safely alongside wildlife, residents can visit Toronto Animal Services’ website or contact their local wildlife experts.